Skipper leads the way

Captain Liam Bryant led by example as Walsham-le-Willows (217-5) posted a 29-run win over Haverhill II (188-9) in the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship Division Three on Saturday.

Bryant lost the toss against his Haverhill counterpart and was duly put into a bat – a decision the skipper went on to punish.

He hit 14 fours and one six on his way to an unbeaten score of 124, while fellow opener Barry Lynn (36) also offered some good support.

Oli Jackson added 23 runs before his wicket eventually fell, and Walsham’s total could have been even larger had their other three batsmen not got out for a combined 22 runs.

Bryant went on to remove Haverhill opener Arvid Gundersen (25) in Walsham’s defence, but it was Jackson and Ben George that did much of the damage with the ball.

Jackson took 4-54 – a haul that included the wicket of Haverhill’s dangerous opener Sam Hartshorn for 74 – with Ben George recording impressive figures of 3-39 from his 15-over stint.

It helped to secure back-to-back victories for Walsham, who occupy eight place in the Division Three standings.

Tomorrow they will entertain a Brockley side that sits in fourth position, 25 points adrift of the promotion places.

Bryant also produced the goods with the bat when the sides clashed earlier in the season, top-scoring with 59 runs in the six-wicket victory for his men.

George also did well with the ball in hand, ending with figures of 4-29 from 11.5 overs.